Gloucester way too good for sorry Ulster

Ulster 14 Gloucester 32

Already plumbing the depths of the Magners League, they were carved open in the opening period by the Cherry and Whites that virtually ended any hope of a season of glory-hunting after only seven competitive games.

Coach Mark McCall’s position has now swung from dodgy to virtually untenable and he must now be wondering how long he has to hang on to a contract that is not due to end in May 2010.

It was embarrassing at times in the first half as the Premiership leaders ran in five tries and a bonus point already tucked in the bag — and deservedly so.

Ulster did start with plenty of venom and took the game to the visitors in front of a faithful 13,00 crowd. But a turnover in the seventh minute saw their defence breached twice in four minutes to start the end of Ulster’s meaningful contribution in Europe this season.

With some great recycling Ulster were making great in-roads before a hopeful grubber kick by Rob Dewey saw Gloucester break upfield in the seventh minute and after flanker Akapusi Qrea broke through the initial defence, fly-half Ryan Lamb neatly put a kick through for wing Lesley Vainikolo to touchdown.

Lamb missed the conversion and did the same with Gloucester’s second try after James Simpson-Daniel broke inside his own 22, fed Iain Balshaw who in turn put Mike Tindall away on an easy run-in from the half-way line.

Ulster should have pulled back some of the leeway in the 15th minute after a Paddy Wallace garryowen fell to Bryn Cunningham but his pass to the unmarked Tommy Bowe was behind the wing who spilled the pass.

Gloucester showed how to convert pressure on their next trip upfield when after Vainikolo bulldozed his way into the Ulster danger area, the ball was rucked, cleared for Lamb to stretch over for his side’s third try which he converted himself.

It got worse for Ulster in the 23rd minute when yet another attack ended with Gloucester scoring at the other end. A promising incursion into the Gloucester danger area was stunningly halted by Lamb who intercepted Wallace’s inside pass to Bowe and passed on to speedster Simpson-Daniel who finished off the 75-metre move.

If Ulster thought it couldn’t get worse they were mistaken. Ulster were yet again on the attack when they were disposed on the half-way line and Simpson-Daniel flipped the ball up to Balshaw whose pace took him into the corner.

The Ulster crowd had something to finally shout on the run-up to half-time when Andrew Trimble broke clear allow Matt McCullough dive. Then Wallace carved open the Gloucester defence for his side’s second try both of which he converted.

At 29-14 down, Ulster were not exactly a lost cause in he second half as they started to play with a more direction and passion, but the penetration was lacking.

It was Gloucester who put the first and only points on the board in the second half with a Lamb penalty in the 68th minute. But they had already done the damage before Ulster decided to wake up.

Ulster scorers: T: McCullough, Wallace; P: C: Wallace 2.

Gloucester scorers: T: Vainikolo, Tindall, Lamb. Simpson-Daniel, Balshaw; P: Lamb; C: Lamb.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, M McCrea; P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), B Young, J Harrison, C Del Fava, M McCullough, N Best, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Caldwell for Del Fava (52), K Dawson for Harrison (62), K Campbell for Boss (80), D Humphreys for Dewey (69), M Bartholomeusz for Cunningham (56).

GLOUCESTER: I Balshaw; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, A Allen, L Vainikolo; R Lamb, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, P Buxton (capt), A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, L Narraway.

Replacements: A Titterrell for Azam (40), C Califano for Wood (80), M Bortolami for Strokosch (53), G Delve for Narraway (62), M Prendergast for Lawson (80), Chris Paterson for Lamb (74), O Morgan for Allen (77).

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).